PCO2 measurements in surface proximal tubules and peritubular capillaries of the rat kidney.
PCO2 was measured in surface proximal tubules and peritubular capillaries in the rat under normal acid-base conditions and in three settings with decreased HCO3(-) reabsorption: benzolamide administration, respiratory alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis. Under normal conditions, PCO2 in the early proximal tubule (EP) was 10.5 mmHg higher than PaCO2 (P less than 0.001) and 3-4 mmHg higher than late proximal (LP) and peritubular capillary (PC) PCO2 (P less than 0.001). PCO2 in LP and PC was 7 mmHg higher than PaCO2 (P less than 0.001). Benzolamide (3 mg/kg) had no effect on the difference between PC and arterial PCO2 or between EP and PC PCO2. Increasing benzolamide to 8 mg/kg increased PCO2 in the surface structures relative to arterial PCO2 by 3-5 mmHg (P less than 0.01). Metabolic acidosis did not alter the relationships between cortical and arterial PCO2. By contrast, respiratory alkalosis decreased cortical PCO2 relative to PaCO2 by over 50%. Nonetheless, EP PCO2 was still higher than LP or PC PCO2 (P less than 0.01). Thus, reducing HCO3(-) reabsorption does not obliterate the difference between EP and LP or PC PCO2 nor does it invariably reduce PCO2 in the surface structures of the kidney relative to arterial PCO2.
D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008839:Microelectrodes; D010313:Partial Pressure; D051381:Rats; D012079:Renal Circulation
D002245:Carbon Dioxide